Mary Allen
The summer heat not only affects us humans but also horses. With a few measures, you can cool them down and protect them from annoying insects.
The comfortable temperature of horses is around seven degrees. It is correspondingly stressful for the four-legged friends when the thermometer shows more than 30 degrees. This is especially true for Nordic horse breeds such as Icelandic horses and draft horses. With a few targeted measures, however, Rösseler can cool their horses down and thus defy heat-related circulatory problems.
During the summer months keeping them in a box that heats up quickly in high temperatures should be avoided at all costs. A barn always needs air exchange, especially in summer, so that there is no build-up of heat, says Sandra Schaeffler from the Pets/Horses department. But also on the pasture, you need shady places that are big enough.
Showering Against Heat & Insects
Permanent access to water is at least as important. Automatic drinkers are best because the water in tubs and vats gets dirty quickly and mosquitoes can lay their eggs in them. It is also important to set up several drinking troughs in the herd, otherwise, the lowest-ranking animals will get nothing. Likewise, a salt lick and a mineral lick should not be missing on any horse pasture, so that the loss of salt can be compensated.
The ride is best done in the cooler morning or evening hours and, according to Schaeffler, may also lead into bodies of water as long as swimming is safe for horse and rider. A shower for the horse is an alternative or supplement. Moisturizing the inner thighs is particularly refreshing. Then you should dry the horse and not leave it dripping back on the pasture. This also helps against annoying insects that cause problems for the horses in summer, in addition to the high temperatures and which are attracted by sweat.
To protect against flies, also need regular cleaning stables, pastures, and paddocks and removing manure. House flies can lead to eye infections due to the continuous transfer of dirt. That’s why a mask that covers the eyes is a good option. The body can be protected with a fly rug.
While there is no absolute protection, a few remedies can limit the number of insects. Anyone who rubs their horse with diluted essential oils such as citronella or lavender oil can naturally ward them off. However, you should first apply the oils to a small area of skin to test whether the horse is allergic to them.